Chapter 4

When I got home, Juno was there too.

She sat on the couch with a dark look on her face, and Brent sat beside her. At the sound of the door opening, Juno looked up.

"Look who grew a backbone. You actually had the nerve to send me that message? I'm trying to teach you how the world works, and this is how you repay me?"

Brent caught my wrist.

"Cooper, don't be ungrateful. Juno's only doing this for your own good. Isn't it better to learn the hard way now than to get scammed out of everything once you're out in the real world?"

He sighed, looking utterly heartbroken.

"As for that post, if it really bothers you that much, I'll delete it right now. The last thing I want is to come between you two after all these years."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and tapped delete right in front of me.

Juno frowned and pulled him back.

"Why are you deleting it? We went to look at the river. There's nothing to hide."

She turned to me, her tone softening slightly.

"Okay, enough. Stop making a fuss."

She pointed to the thick stack of books on the coffee table.

"I had someone get you top-secret exam prep materials from the best instructors out there, and I signed you up for an intensive prep course too. Just focus on studying, and you'll definitely get in next year."

There was a time when I had combed through every used bookstore in town looking for a single out-of-print collection of past exam papers. Now an entire stack sat carelessly piled in front of me, but I had already accepted the job in Port Delford. I was not going to take the exam again.

I looked at her quietly as the image of my shredded admission ticket flashed through my mind. She had lied to me so many times. This time, it was my turn to lie to her.

"Okay. I'll definitely get in next year."

Juno's lips curved in satisfaction, and she pulled me into her arms.

"That's my good Cooper."

The next morning, I went back to my dorm to pack up the last of my belongings. My phone suddenly rang, and the moment I answered, Brent's frantic voice came through.

"Cooper! Come back, quick! Peaches is missing!"

This was the second time they had pulled the same trick. Last year, Brent told me Peaches was missing too. I searched for her in the rain all night, only to find out later that he had taken her to Juno's place.

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Brent, the same trick gets old pretty fast."

Brent was sobbing so hard on the other end that he could barely breathe.

"I'm not lying to you, I swear! She ran off, and I've been looking for half an hour, and I still can't find her."

I hung up on him.

Was this lesson four, or lesson five?

Ten minutes later, a sick feeling crept over me. I stopped packing, ran out of the dorm, and caught a cab.

The moment I pushed open the apartment door, I found the living room terrifyingly quiet. Peaches did not come bounding over with her tail wagging. There was no happy barking.

Brent's eyes were red, and his shoulders shook with every sob. Juno sat beside him, wiping away his tears.

"Stop crying. It was an accident. Nobody wanted this to happen."

My throat tightened.

"Where's Peaches?"

Brent cried even harder.

"I'm sorry, Cooper. I'm so sorry. I just wanted to go along with Juno and teach you one more lesson. I was going to hide Peaches, and then when you came rushing back to look for her, I'd bring her out and surprise you.

"But as soon as I took her downstairs, she slipped her leash and ran. By the time I found her, she'd already been hit and killed by a truck. I've already had building management bury her."

My mind went blank, and my entire body turned cold.

Juno stood up and stepped in front of Brent.

"What's done is done. Brent's really shaken up too. He didn't mean for this to happen.

"Besides, if you'd believed him when he called and come back sooner to help look, maybe Peaches wouldn't have died. At the end of the day, you're just too paranoid."

My legs nearly gave out beneath me, and I had to brace myself against the wall to stay upright.

"Get out."

Juno's expression darkened.

"Cooper Stroud, calm down."

"Get out!"

Juno let out a cold laugh and took Brent's hand.

"Fine. Take some time alone to cool off. When you've learned how to talk to me properly, I'll come find you."

The moment the door shut behind them, every last bit of strength drained out of me. I sank to the floor, and my eyes landed on the dog bowl in the corner, still half full. Tears slid silently down my face.

The next day, I dragged my packed suitcase out of the apartment without looking back.

When I arrived at the airport, Juno texted me.

[Have you calmed down yet?]

[It was just a dog. There's no need to make things this ugly.]

[Once you get into grad school next year, I'll buy you a purebred show-quality Samoyed as a reward. It'll be way smarter than Peaches.]

I stared at the cold words on the screen for a long moment.

So it was just a dog.

I did not reply. I just walked toward the security checkpoint.